But this guy, uses this machine in the so -called Modern day trials, and I am told does very well.

Now take a look at the Third bike down.

This is also classed has a Pre 65 machine, Is it?

Just compare it with the 1963 bike below to make up your mind if this is so?

This Triumph TR20 Cub is a 1963 bike and correct in every way.

How many Triumph Cubs do you see like this today competing and still calling the machine "the so called Pre 65"

***

This is a brand New 2015 built Triumph Cub? but in some quarters classed as Pre 65,Is that right?

OK. How I see what makes a machine Pre 65,and I am being lenient with some of my rules to just use common sense on some counts.

Now this is my definition of what I think should be the "Rules". and this could be pushing them to far?

A British Trials bike based on a image of a machine built before the end of December 1964.

Now Image means,

A machine, using an engine and gearbox available at the time,unit or pre unit, or a derivative of this engine or gearbox (four speed, max).

IE, As per the C15/B40 engine, The basic design, even though up rated over the years past 1964, was still a development of that basic design.

Carburettor,

Should be one available or under test before 1965, this lets in the Amal Mk1-1,1/2 carb, and also some Italian- Japanese carbs that were fitted to bikes before the threshold.

And to my mind if these Carburettors were used on a motorcycle of any make before 1965 they should be alright to be used.

Frame,

Should be a silhouette of one built before 1965 but not necessarily one in production, a replica of a known frame, (with Proof) should suffice?

We know that most frames are now so-called copies of a frame produced before this 1965 time line, but are they realy?

Most are made of lighter and better quality tubing than was about at the time, just cut open a Triumph Cub or BSA C15 frame and you realise that a modern day frame is nothing like the ones produced before the 1965 deadline.

And most have had the swinging arm lowered,or altered at the pivot, and the under engine frame modified or removed.

Subframes have been reduced in width, and swinging arms lengthened and widened.

Brake drums, rims, etc should be ones available at the time no matter the nationality of manufacture, or sensible copies of the same?

But do we really allow all of the billet parts now produced onto a bike with a name Pre65.

how many CNC milling machines did you see in the year 1965?

An effort should be made to make the machine look as "British" as possible. IE, fuel tanks Etc.

Yes we did have replacment fuel tanks for our BSA's, the LYTA ones that the fctory used.

And yes we had glass-fibre mudguards, but other types of plastic used was new to a motorcycle.

Front Forks.

These should be of Pre 1965 appearance. and fitted with some protection for stanchions.

Internals can be of later manufacture, but must be stated as so on the entry form.

But should we again allow Brand Newl'y designed, and Manufactured forks hiding under a old brand name be fitted to a machine, and still call it Pre65?

the answer is a definite NO.......

If the majority of the entry have internally altered forks, BSA/Triumph, Four stud forks will be allowed, along with other makes of fork available before 1972. If however an entry was made up of bikes fitted with genuine Pre 65 forks, the bikes fitted with the later 1971-2 forks would be able to compete, but with a penalty of 3 marks lost. Yokes to my mind can be any that are safe for the job in hand, no mater where the pinch bolts are.

Cycle Parts,

Ball ended levers (16mm) and folding footrests are a must.

(both of these for safety sake.)

Bars should be no wider than 840mm. The throttle must return to its stop, and the cable be free running.

Brake arms-rods,and cables, should be adequate for the job.

If, or should I say when, we run our own club trials,

these rules will apply, to bikes I call Pre65 others up to the seventies with British motors will be known has "Britshocks"

It really is now time to Drop the Pre65 name tag on all forms of Classic offroad Competition.

Because we all know that the rules the have enthused ever since Deryk coined the phrase and he admits that mostly he was referring to the sections used and not the machines.

As every one riding in his first events only could afford the genuine Pre65 machines then as they were cheap because no one wanted an old banger.

How times change hey!

This or the one below or both?

Disagree then let me know.

2014

Well, I have received an unbelievable amount of interest in these rules.

And it has now spurned others with this way of thinking to try and persuade the AC-U or AMCA. to set up a series for Club-men, with British Twin Shock machines up to 1970,with sections that are enjoyable to ride ,on a machine that has not cost the earth to put together, or is still near original.

We suggest that this series is named "Brit-Shocks".

Jan 2018.

Well we know that did not happen and the AC-U have dropped the last so called Classic series. that was formally the Sammy Miller series of trials.

This was said to have been dropped because of the lack of entries received for these events.

A couple of clubs including the Stratford upon Avon MCC. have decided to go there own way and run the old Sam Cooper trial using there own rules.

I hope people will support this effort.

The BMCA still run there Classic series of trial as you know. and usually have a entry of at least thirty riders. with machines governed by their own set of rules.

that every part of a competing machine must be of British manufacture.

This is al-right but it still lets in the dreaded billet parts and even the NEW forks.

And I must say that the most prominent machine used now by most of the riders is a bike from the Now Super Brand Drayton.

I feel the series will become a one make Specials trial using this brand of machine. am I wrong then?

~~~~~~~

The Yorkshire Classic club so I am told seem to be having the same problem with a lack of entries to some of their trials.

Is it these NEW Super breeds of bike that has killed these entries, are the sections now being tightened even more for these money pits of machine.

And do the people that have spent £10,000 on a brand New bike expect priority over lesser influential put together machines.

These two makes of lightweight machine have just flourished through being just that lightweight, and Mr BSA and Triumph must be turning in their graves to see what they could have done if they had kept going.

But make no mistake about it these two brands of New machines as Killed not only the so named Pre 65 movement but also the Classic trials scene of a whole.

And we wont start on the influence of what can be ridden in the Scottish Twoday trial will we.

I have mails every day asking me what is allowed in their rules.

And if I am going to build up a machine, and I need to build it so that I may use it in that trial.

All I say as guidance is that the rules up there change with the wind, and unless you have a foreign passport, and a deep pocket to be able to spend a lot of money on New billet parts and fork and frames.

Just build a bike you can afford and ride in your local trials clubs that still caters

The Ballet Explained.

Edinburgh Mcc Pre 65 2018.

~~~

The ballot is not just a case of pulling 200 names out of a hat as a great many believe.

If only it was that easy! In actual fact it is a very complex procedure to ensure it is

done as fairly as possible and below we have tried to explain how we do it.

To ensure a varied mix of different makes of bike as well as riders, age, nationality,

newcomers and capacity class, all the entrants are put into different categories ready

for ballot. Our aim is to have a balance across all four of the capacity classes, ie,

approximately 50 in each cc class. This is the starting point but, by the time we

actually get to the trial, this balance won’t be as apparent due to withdrawals being

replaced by the next rider from the reserve list irrespective of capacity class.

When entries are received they are put into their capacity class.

Only those entries that arrive by the closing date and comply with the rules are

entered into the ballot. Any entrant who submits an entry with a bike that has

eligibility issues that cannot be rectified prior to the entry closing date, do not go

into the ballot. The entrant will be notified so that they can rectify it, if they wish

to do so, for the following year. Late entries are not balloted.

All Trophy winners (18) from the previous year’s trial are guaranteed a entry .

As long as the bike entered complies with the eligibility requirements.

A few places are reserved at the discretion of the committee. These are for our

sponsor’s riders, (not free of charge), and any special interest or unusual bikes to

ensure as many makes as possible are represented.

Riders who have been unsuccessful in the ballot for 3 consecutive years are flagged

up from the database, and given priority if their bike is eligible.

Approximately 25 Scottish riders are drawn from all Scottish rider applications to

ensure at least that number are in the trial.

Approximately 35 Overseas riders are drawn from all Overseas rider applications.

This is anyone who does not hold an SACU or ACU Competition Licence to ensure

at least that number are in the trial.

Approximately 35 Newcomers are drawn from all Newcomer rider applications.

This includes riders in all the categories that precede this part of the ballot to

ensure, at least, that number are in the trial.

All the remaining places are drawn from the remaining applications and this is

done by capacity class, to give approximately 50 riders in each of the four capacity

classes.

After the main ballot has been completed, another ballot takes place for the Reserve List>

These riders are notifiedof their reserve list number and should be aware

that they may get a ride at the very last minute.

Whilst we would love to accommodate all entrants, due to being so over-subscribed

each year, we unfortunately have to disappoint a great many. However, don’t despair,

we do have measures in place to ensure that you don’t go more than 3 years without a

ride if you enter every year with an eligible bike.

~~~~~~~

Make sure your bike complies with the eligibility guidelines and, wherever possible, use genuine Pre ’65 parts and ensure that any modifications do not take it out-with the "parameters" of a “Pre ’65 design”. Remember you are entering a Pre ’65 Trial and in doing so your bike has to look like a Pre ’65 machine and keep to the spirit of Pre ’65.

~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

A total of 314 entries were received by the closing date for the 2018 Trial and the capacity class breakdown of entrants was.

Rigid - 5,

Up to 200cc - 76,

201 to 250cc - 124,

251 to 350cc - 54

and Over 350cc – 55.

With about 50 spaces in each of the four capacity classes available, it does not take a genius to work out that if, for example, there are only 54 entries in a class then there will only be a few disappointed but in the case of a very over-subscribed class then your chances are greatly reduced due to the number of available spaces.

~~~~~~~

for a Classic type machine.

Faber Otter Cub not Classed as Pre 65. but a Classic in my eyes.

~~~~~~~

Here is some old 1960 trials footage which will give you some idea of the type of sections there were at that time.

I might add that I cant believe the lack of grip in the latter part of the film.

So you see you already have an advantage on us guy's back then, the tyres now-a-days "Grip".

Bring on the "TRAD" trials, but we know the time is past, and this will not happen.

Don't think that it is bad news for Pre 65 in all parts of the world because it is just the opposite which must say something.

What we are getting wrong? When others are getting right.

I have been told by several of our experienced Classic trials riders , that they don't bother with trials in this country (UK) any-more, but travel to the continent to do their trials riding, because they are excepted there, and people just ride what they have, and most machines are not in the super trick bracket of machine.

Just take a look at these trials photos at a trial from Mons in Belgium in November last year.